There are a lot of business opportunities for the stay at home mom who wants to (or needs to) make some additional income. You’re not limited to direct sales businesses or stuffing envelopes. There are a lot of opportunities for you to use your already acquired professional skills – it just takes some creative thinking to figure out what will be the best business for you. The first option I’d like to mention is ghost writing.

When you think of ghost writing you might think of some famous star who wants to write their autobiography, but doesn’t have the skills to write it in a format that is marketable. Ghost writing is much more than that. You get paid to write for someone else, and that person claims it as their own and gets to use it however they choose. You do not retain the rights to the work, nor will you get credit for it.

The Internet is a wonderful place for a good ghost writer to find work. There are hundreds of thousands of marketing sites out there, and every site needs copy for it. Many people who are skilled internet marketers are skilled in the technical aspects of it, not the writing end. Demand is high for skilled ghost writers in this market sector.

To become a successful ghost writer, you need to have strong skills in reading, writing, proofreading, and grammar. You need to have very good research skills, as you might be asked to write about topics on which you have no personal experience or knowledge. You also need to have a computer with an internet connection and a good word processing application.

So how do you get started in this work at home opportunity? First you’re going to need a website so potential clients can read samples of your work. You can clearly define your services that are available, and if you want your rates. (You might want to stay flexible on your fees at first, until you build up some clients that can provide testimonials. It’s your choice.) If you don’t have a domain name you can go to GoDaddy to purchase one. You’re also going to have to get hosting for your site, and a place you can go for that is Host Gator.

Once you’ve established yourself on the internet you’ll need to find some clients. Building a business takes time and work, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t find a lot of work right away. Online networking groups are a great way to get out there and establish your business. You can also look at freelance sites where customers place ads for projects they want completed and you bid on how much you’ll accept for the work. Rent a Coder is a site you can check out for this. It’s free and there are always a lot of open projects.

Finally, don’t get discouraged during the slow times. You’re staying at home to have more time with your family. Use your children as your motivation to stay focused and become successful as a ghost writer.